Oops, I did it again!

It has been more than a week that we haven’t been able to go to Paragon. So, we decided to go there today to look for scanner, which I want for my personal use.  We did find some scanners at IT city, and changed the plan to buy one in coming weeks. Then my other half reminded me of Jaspal Sales (50%). Loving him for his reminder and be concerned about our budget for July were two parallel thoughts happened one after another on our way to the Jaspal boutique. There, I did it again, well it is just one blouse which I decided not to buy when they had 20% discount a few weeks ago: I saved 30% of my last intended buying price at best, and spent 21 US$ for the blouse at worst.

Of course, our original plan of buying scanner and one home appliance has gone when we reached to Paragon ground floor, where most food chains, gourmet market, and food court are located. I was never as inpatient as tonight while waiting for my queue number to be called in front of MK Gold. 30 minutes later, we finally went inside and enjoyed our dinner. Then, I noticed my membership card expire this very day as it stated expire on 07/2010: Why the membership? I can get 10% discount if I pay by cash and 5% discount by credit card. So, after paying the bill by using my present one, I did apply for new card. I have to pay 200 Baht for the new one and can get the same privileges at any MK restaurants for 2 years. 

Hello Bangkok, Goodbye Yangon 2!

Le soleil se levait du bosquet de manguiers, quand je me suis réveillée le samedi dernier. Malgré ma faim, j'ai décidé de sauter mon petit déjeuner, le thé et des casse-croûte de café à proximité. Lorsque ma chère amie m'a appelé pour déjeuner, j'ai spontanément proposé où on doit manger, Maung Myint de la rue 12. Voilà, mon déjeuner exceptionnel, ce n’est pas parce qu'il a été extravagant, juste parce que c'est délicieux. Pour ma chère ami, le drôle, l'amour de manger, je vous remercie beaucoup de m'avoir amener là!

The sun was rising from the mango grove when I woke up on Saturday morning. Despite my hunger, I decided to skip my breakfast, the amazing tea and snacks from nearby teashop. It was only when my dear friend called me to have lunch together, I spontaneously suggested where to eat, Maung Myint from 12^th street. There we go, my exceptional lunch, not because it was extravagant, just because it was delicious. To my dear friend, the witty, easygoing, food lover, thank you so much for bring me there!

Une journée n'a pas été complète sans Americano pour nous, donc nous sommes allées au 20e étage, où nous pouvions nous asseoir confortablement en attendant les autres. Malgré l’excellente localization, je préfère le café de Zawgyi House, bien sûr ce n'est que mon avis. Si j'ai le temps cet après-midi @ 20e étage, je l'aurais commandé du poulet frit à l'happy hour à partir de 4 heures, ce qui est savoureux et moins coûteux que notre café, selon mon amie.

A day wasn’t complete without Americano for us, so we went to 20^th floor, where we could sit comfortably while waiting for others. In a way and despite the location, I prefer the café from ZawGyi House, well it is just my opinion. If I have time that afternoon @ 20^th floor, I would have ordered fried chicken at happy hour starting from 4 p.m., which, according to my friend, is tasty and less expensive than our coffee.

Hello Bangkok, Goodbye Yangon 1!

What do we normally do when we have long holiday? It is an easy question: Doing house chores, go shopping, social gathering, movie, etc. or go back home, where we are born, grown, loved, stressed, happy, sad, and probably pass away. Since both of us are from Yangon, we never think twice about going back home whenever we can. So we did go back there during this holiday and had a great time with family, friends, and acquaintances. It rains a lot, and less noise pollution than last time thanks to regular electricity.

What did I do Friday? I spend a lot of time @ Scott Market and near by café, ZawGyi House. Why Scott Market? I just wanted to buy some souvenirs, cotton fabric, traditional blouses, longyi and eat noodles @ U Kyui. Then I headed to ZawGyi House, where my dear friend and I love to chitchat while drinking our, ever so delicious, Americano. We stayed there quite long time, so each of us had at least 2 cups of coffee, green tea, and other snacks. While we were waiting for other friends to join us, we asked a bowl to eat my favorite Burmese treat from Scott Market. It still does delicious and makes me think of my childhood.  

It’d be laughable

Pic from App Store.

Mrs. M: “Hi, Mr. A.  How are you? How have you been? Long time no see.”

Mr. A: “ Oh, hello, Mrs. M, I am fine. Thanks, and when did you arrive here? I am sorry I didn’t get in touch with you for a while. I was busy as bee last month.”

Mrs. M: “It is ok; I come here to find out how you think of our service tools. Are they practical, convenient and helpful for you and your colleagues?”

Mr. A: “Not quite actually. But we would like to use them for a while.”

Mrs. M: “Really? Well, thank you for your support.”

Mr. A: “Please don’t mention it. But it would be more beneficial for us to use much improved tools in no time.”

Mrs. M: “OK, by the way, even though we have lost contact, will you keep using our company’s services?”

Mr. A: “Why not? Let me put it this way, I don’t know who created Yahoo! Mail, but I use them everyday, as I am satisfied with the services. Like wise, as long as those service tools contribute, we will continue to work with your company.”

Though I have less sense of humor, my other half is full of wit. Let’s say, he could make fun of everything, his conversations are full of humor, but sometimes, those witty chats could come to be smart-alecky. 

Martyrs' Day

He truly is one of my heroes.

All the clips are from  you tube.

Yum Saap

 J'ai perdu mon sens de l'humour: samedi dernier, nous sommes allés regarder Despicable Me en 3D, qui est, 100 bahts plus cher que le prix habituel. Il est amusant de regarder un film en 3D, même si ces lunettes me faire mal à l'aise. Comme ce film est dessin animé, je m'attendais à beaucoup d'enfants dans le théâtre. Bien sûr, j'ai eu tort, et il n’y ai que les adultes. Dès le début jusqu’à la fin, j'ai remarqué que tous les gens rirent et éclatent de joie, sauf moi. J'ai alors réalisé d’avoir vraiment perdu mon sens de l'humour.

 Le dimanche était tout à fait ordinaire: nous nous sommes réveillés, avons mangé brunch, écouté dharma, préparé pour notre prochain voyage, et enfin sommes sortis pour le dîner. Chaque fois que j'ai envie de manger de la nourriture thaïlandaise, je vais à YumSaap, un restaurant thaïlandais de la chaîne alimentaire en Thaïlande. Il est plutôt bon marché, nous avons commandé les plats ci-dessous avec du riz gluant et des boissons, et il coûte seulement 350 Bahts.

Puis nous avons continué pour faire des courses pour nos bien-aimés et la nuit finit après avoir bu du petit café @ Coffee World.

I have lost my sense of humor: on Saturday, we went to watch Despicable Me in 3D, which is, by the way, 100 bahts more expensive than the usual price. It is fun to watch any movie in 3D even though those eyeglasses make me feel uncomfortable. As it was animated film, I was expecting a lot of kids in the theatre. Of course I was wrong, and all of us are grown-ups. Since the beginning to an end, I noticed people laughing theirs head off and burst with joy but me. There, I realized the fact that I really have lost my sense of humor.

Sunday was quite ordinary: we woke up, had brunch, listened to dharma, packed for our coming trip, and finally went out for dinner. Whenever I feel like eating Thai food, I go to Yum Saap, a Thai food chain restaurant in Thailand. It is rather cheap; we ordered the above dishes along with sticky rice and drinks and it costs only 350 Bahts.

Then we went shopping for our beloved ones and had a coffee break @ coffee world. 

Dream, Dream, Dream

Yesterday, my significant other and me went to Cineplex to watch either “Despicable me” or “Inception”. It was an easy choice for me, as I prefer fiction than comedy. At some point, we reached to a decision that we could watch “Despicable me” next time. It is all about dream. I mean the movie “INCEPTION”: “Stealing valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious during the dream state when the mind is at its most vulnerable”. Come on, everybody dream, but not like this crazy good. At any rate, I love the idea, the actress, and everything about this movie.

I think I am going to be broke due to my moviegoing habit. I saw the trailer for SALT, and STEP UP 3 yesterday and have decided not to miss them in theatre: SALT because of Angie and STEP UP 3 by reason of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE finalists.

                                      

You might wonder what is that. Well, it is just cheddar cheese wrapped in gyoza skin. Since I hesitate to eat cheddar cheese because of my weight issue, they have been in my fridge for at least six months. I can’t control myself and ended up eating like that. 

The Four Noble Truths

ในชีวิตสิ่งที่เราคิดว่าเป็นสิ่งสำคัญคืออะไร คำตอบอาจจะแตกต่างกันตามประสบการณ์ ตามความต้องการ ตามศาสนา อายุและการรับรู้ของเราเกี่ยวกับชีวิต อยากรู้ว่าฉันคิดอย่างไร ตอนเด็ก ผลการสอบที่ดีและเล่นหลังโรงเรียนก่อนพ่อแม่กลับเป็นสิ่งสำคัญมาก ตอนวัยรุ่นไปเรียนศิลปะที่สอนฟรีในช่วงฤดูร้อนอ่านหนังสืออื่นนอกจากหนังสือเรียนและไม่ให้พ่อแม่ของฉันผิดหวัง เป็นความสำคัญของตัวเอง เรื่องเงินไม่เคยเป็นสิ่งสำคัญไม่ว่าฉันให้ความฝันของฉันไป 


เมื่อเราเติบโตแล้วเรารู้ว่าทุกสิ่งทุกอย่างเปลี่ยนแปลงและไม่แน่นอน ฉันมีความเห็นแตกต่างกันในเรื่องชีวิต วิธีการคิดมีอิทธิพลอย่างมากจาก Existentialism  นอกจากนี่ฉันถูกนำขึ้นในศาสนาผสม ซึ่งทำให้ฉันอยู่ห่างจากความเชื่อเหล่านั้นจนฉันได้พบความจริงของตนเอง มันไม่ง่ายเลยที่จะให้ทุกคนทราบทางเลือกของฉัน คือฉันเป็นชาวพุทธแล้ว บางคนบอกว่าฉันไม่ควรจะทอดที้งประเพณี ฉันจะพบปัญหาต่าง ๆ ในชีวิต บางคนทำนายว่าฉันจะจน นั่นคือความคีดเห็นของญาติพี่น้อง ไม่ใช่ของฉัน่แน่นอน ฉันให้ชีวิตของฉันไปตามปกติ ถ้าฉันต้องตอบคำถามของฉันเกี่ยวกับสิ่งสำคัญในชีวิต ฉันจะตอบว่า อริยสัจ ๔

In life, what do we think is important? Answers may vary according to our own experience, desire, religion, age, and most significantly, our perception about life. What do I think? When I was young, a good exam result and playing after schools before my parents’ return were important. In adolescence, going to free art class during summer, reading books other than textbooks, not letting my parents down in everyway were my own importance. Money was never important though I had to let a lot of my dreams go. Things were unpredictable when we grow old. I had different opinion in the matter of life as my ways of thinking were greatly influenced by Existentialism. Being brought up in mix religion convinces me of staying away from those beliefs until I have found my true self. It wasn’t that easy to let everyone know of my choice to be a Buddhist, Theravada Buddhism.  Some said I should not neglect some customs and I was asking for trouble in life, some predicted I would be as poor as a church mouse. Well, it is their point of view and certainly not mine, so I keep my life going. If I have to answer my own question about what is important in life, it will be The Four Noble Truths.

To Sir, With Love

Finally, I have my chance to enjoy Season Finale of GLEE today. Yes, please don’t confuse, it broadcasted a month ago in USA, but since I am in BKK, I can love life the program just today, thanks to Star World. Anyway, it was worth waiting. My eyes were full of tears when I watch the group’s tribute to Will by singing “To Sir, With Love”. 

“Journey” for regional is not bad actually, however, I am somewhat disappointed by the fact that “Kurt” had little chance in singing. Still and all, I love Glee, and other musicals. No, I don’t sing, don’t watch MTV, don’t listen much, and there is a lot of things I don’t do relating to arts.

I do want to thank to my other half, who is out for business dinner, for letting me have my GLEE moment alone. Me sitting on the couch in front of TV, enjoying a mug of brewed black coffee after dinner and feeling like I am with the casts, reach my heart’s content. What did I have for dinner? Just bean vermicelli salad with shrimp and watermelon. 

Gadgets and shopping, which cost us dearly

Just yesterday, I read about “ 5 Common Habits That Cost You Dearly” in Yahoo. I was indifferent that time, as we don’t have the following habits mentioned by the author Kerry K. Taylor: Paying only the minimum balance, Buying a brand new car, Smoking, Keeping a drafty attic, Ignoring the student debt.

Well, well, well, a few hours later, after having our favorite breakfast, my husband and me headed to MBK to look for iPad. After asking a few shops, and considering the price differences, he decided to get wifi 3G 64 GB instead of 32 GB. What was I thinking that time? First of all, we are lucky that we don’t live in USA. Then, new gadgets are very tempting for my significant other. So I just want to say to Steve Jobs: “Please stop creating new gadgets for at least 1 year.” I am just pulling your legs, my dear.

Then we decided to walk around to burn some calories literally. It has been a while that the prices are discounted in several stores: ZARA up to 50%, MNG up to 70%, Massimo Dutti up to 50%, and other brands. It is very crowded in ZARA, and the quality is so-so, except for some shoes. Here we go again, shoes, shoes, and shoes. I tried some but didn’t buy, as the heels are super high for me. I take my hats off to those who could pull them off. 

Dutti ( downloaded picture)

MNG? I like some dresses, prices from 50-100 $, and didn’t buy any of them. I need more casual wear than those party dresses. Moving forward to Massimo Dutti, I fell in love with the new collection, so I only window-shop. Other luxury brand? It is beyond my budget, so just surfing from the Internet is more than enough for me. Anyway, I love Hermes, TODS, and Versace.

As a matter of fact, for my casual wear, I prefer local brand such as Jaspal, and CHAPS than ZARA or MNG. May be I am not happy to see ZARA at export shop in Thailand, India, etc or I am just thinking of Value for Money. I got excited when I see the 20 % off sign at Jaspal. I got one blouse, yes, only one, and I am so content with the quality, and style. If I remember it correctly, 20% off for clothing during 1-4 July, 30% off for accessories until 18 July.

JASPAL (downloaded picture)

I even asked the staff when will they have sale up to 50%, and she gently smile at me and says “ I am not sure yet”, and asking me why I didn’t buy one cutie blouse with lace and flower pattern print. I paused for 5 or 6 seconds and replied her, “I love that blouse, it suits me beautifully, but the problem is my skin color. The off-white lace and hot pink flower color combination didn’t do any favor to my skin.”

Let’s go back to the beginning to “ 5 Common Habits That Cost You Dearly”. Even though we don’t have such habits, our obsessions for new technology, shopping for unnecessary things will definitely cost us dearly in the long run.

Frozen Crystals

ฉันรักเมฆโดยเฉพาะอย่างยิ่งเวลาพวกเขากลายเป็นน่ากลัว;แต่ฉันยังไม่เห็นพวกนั้นเลย อย่างไรก็ตามฉันอยากใส่ลงภาพต่อไปนี้ที่ฉันได้ถ่ายจากระเบียงในบล็อกของฉัน

I love clouds especially when they become really terrifying, alas; I still haven’t seen any of them. Regardless, I love to put the above pictures, which I took from my veranda into my blog.

The Twilight Saga

After reading this post, I wanted to admit that I am a Twilight fan though I am no longer adolescent or be Tint Tint's age for several years.  I tried to buy the tickets for Eclipse through Internet first. Most of the seats are not available, so I decided to go and buy at the theatre this afternoon. Unfortunately, the majority of the seats in the back rows have already booked or bought to the last show at the normal theatres. I have no choice but to queue at Krungsri IMAX theatre. At one point, I was indecisive due to price difference (200 Baht Vs 500 Baht/seat): the stingy part of me saying “no”, and the spendthrift part of me telling me “ why not, the ticket price is still cheaper than other country”. What am I today, stingy or spendthrift? I’d rather let the tickets tell its own story. Please don’t disappoint me, “Eclipse”, like “Knight and day” did.